QB proves his worth on field

Although Georgia quarterback Joe Cox is a psychology major, a certain literary phrase — slightly altered — is something he can appreciate: “the reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.”

The fifth-year senior bounced back from a disappointing, flu-influenced showing last weekend at Oklahoma State and from rumors earlier this week that he might not start or even play to direct the No. 21 Bulldogs to a narrow 41-37 Southeastern Conference shootout over South Carolina Saturday at Sanford Stadium.

“I did feel we had something to prove, especially after last week,” Cox said. “I wanted to prove people wrong, and everybody laid it on the line (Saturday). We made some mistakes, but still found a way to win.”

“I’m sure getting the win, especially in the conference, was a big weight off his shoulders,” said offensive tackle Clint Boling. “Hopefully, he’ll be able to keep playing this way.”

Asserting on Friday that he did in fact have a problem with the muscle covering the rotator cuff on his right (throwing shoulder), Cox didn’t let his condition -- or critics suggesting he should be benched in favor of sophomore Logan Gray -- affect him as he took every offensive snap but one against the Gamecocks, completing 17 of 24 passs for 201 yards and touchdown connections with A.J. Green and Michael Moore.

“This is something I’ve been dealing with for a while, and when I heard earlier this week that I wasn’t going to start or play, I just turned off my phone and the TV,” he said. “I didn’t have any concerns (about rumors) because I knew all week I’d be playing. It was everybody else who made a big deal of it.”

Cox’s coaches and teammates, from whom he commands great respect, were pleased with his performance against the Gamecocks.

“He handled things perfectly,” said running back Richard Samuel, who led Georgia’s ground atttack with 65 yards on 15 attempts. “He did not let all the outside questions from the week distract him. He came out, executed and got the job done. He didn’t worry about anything.”

“He did a great job and I’m glad he had the game he had so people will stop talking about him,” said Green, who had six catches for 86 yards. “Joe’s a great quarterback.”

Cox was indeed a survivor, and got help from the defense in overcoming a fourth-quarter interception returned for a touchdown by South Carolina’s Eric Norwood that -- thanks to a blocked extra point attempt by DeAngelo Tyson -- helped South Carolina move to within one point of Georgia at 38-37.

“Quarterbacks always face adversity and they’ve got to be able to bounce back,” said receiver Tavarres King, who had three catches for 27 yards. “But Joe’s strong, and when something bad happens he jumps right back in there.”

Although he didn’t uncork any bomb-like passes, Cox answered some critics’ opinions of his arm strength with multiple tosses on drives in the first and second quarter. Perhaps his most impressive possession came late in the first half when he completed a tipped pass to Moore for 19 yards, a 5-yarder to Samuel to bring the Bulldogs to the South Carolina 9-yard line, where Cox hooked up with Green for a score with nine seconds remaining.

“Joe did an outstanding job,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. “He came out aggressive and did his progressions and reads with authority. And to come back from that (interceptions), he just kept battling. He and the rest of the team handled adversity throughout the game.”

And as far as Cox’s controversial shoulder is concerned, well, if it bothered him as Saturday night became Sunday morning, he did a good job of hiding it.

“It feels good,” he smiled. “I warmed up before the game and it felt pretty good then. It didn’t bother me a bit.”